TILLAMOOK, Ore. – A popular Trask River fishing hole will open early this year to give anglers more opportunity to capitalize on continued strong returns of Chinook and coho salmon.

The Hatchery Hole will open to fishing Oct. 16 under temporary rules adopted this week by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The Hatchery Hole is a popular section of the Trask River located 200 feet above and 900 feet below its confluence with Gold Creek, approximately six miles southeast of Tillamook. It normally remains closed through November to protect hatchery broodstock but will open early this year in response to returns in excess of hatchery needs on the Trask River.

“With observed and anticipated continued good returns of hatchery coho and fall Chinook we are implementing this additional opportunity,” said Robert Bradley, ODFW fish biologist in Tillamook, whonoted that the opener will coincide with forecast rains that should bring more salmon into the Trask river basin.

Anglers may keep up to two adult salmon or steelhead per day in any combination. Both clipped and unclipped Chinook salmon may be retained whereas coho and steelhead retention is restricted to adipose fin-clipped fish. See the 2014 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations or the ODFW website for further details.